Bombs kill 2 women heading to polls as Iraqis vote

BAGHDAD (AP) -- A senior police officer says two roadside bombs have gone off in a northern Iraqi town, killing two women walking to a polling station to cast ballots and wounding five soldiers as the country holds key nationwide elections.

Police. Brig-Gen. Sarhad Qadir says the attacks took place in the town of Dibis, located near Kirkuk, a turbulent city some 290 kilometers (180 miles) north of Baghdad.

Wednesday's bombings were the first reported violence as Iraqis cast ballots for a new parliament, a vote that is being held amid a massive security operation.

Hundreds of thousands of troops and police have fanned out to guard voting centers in what is also the first nationwide balloting since the 2011 American pullout.